Special migration status in SA possible

Prime Minister
Tony Abbott
hinted he is considering giving South Australia special status under the migration rules to help its economy as it prepares for the closure of General Motors-Holden.

South Australian Liberals leader
Steven ­Marshall
has held detailed talks with Mr Abbott about ways to generate better growth in the state, which is facing a difficult time as its large manufacturing sector adjusts to higher dollar and high wage costs.

Mr Abbott was in Adelaide on Wednesday where he spent time at an all-day economic forum led by federal Industry Minister
Ian Macfarlane
that is thrashing out ways to boost the South Australian economy.

Mr Abbott said he would look closely at the issues around giving special dispensation to the state to increase migration.

“I am instinctively very ­sympathetic to the position that Steven has put [forward]," he said.

Mr Marshall said he wouldn’t publicly discuss all of the ­economic plans he had spoken about with Mr Abbott. Four main planks include defence spending, infrastructure spending, a different status for South Australia to encourage more migration, and better co-operation between ­federal trade bodies and the state.

Among the business and ­political leaders at the economic forum with Mr Macfarlane on Wednesday were
Robert ­Champion de Crespigny
, the former managing director of ­Normandy Mining.

Mr Champion de Crespigny said he spends about half his time in London and half in Australia, and had joined the forum because he wanted to be part of a revival.